Here we are well under halfway into the first month of the year. Well, how are you doing?
Did you make any resolutions or determinations for 2017?
I did....
"Make some permanent changes"
Following our meeting, the Lord instructed me to sit down with all parties involved in the highs and lows of 2016 including those who had been retained due to lack of mastery in 2014 and '15 (regardless of how I felt about them).
So there I sat with Time (I have to watch that one.... it's a "runner"), Sight (sits near the front... keeps forgetting glasses, loses focus easily) , Hearing (had to move away from Obedience and Sight...very distracting to the others), Feelings (not the touchy one, but the emotional one... consistent retention candidate), Obedience (defiant at times), the twins Entitlement and Pride (some days I wish they would just get sick and be absent), Health (missed a lot of days...), the triplets Faith, Hope, and Trust (good breeding... wish I had more like them), Worship (group leader...future looks bright), Mouth (sometimes, I just don't know about this one... quiet when it needs to talk and talkative when it needs to be quiet) and Love (teacher's pet) to review what Jesus and I had determined were my strengths and weaknesses of the past year.
After the muffins (thanks mom), juice and coffee had been consumed and all documents distributed, I dimmed the lights and
When the lights came back on, I spanned my gaze slowly around the room pausing to lock eyes, retina to retina, with each of them. You see, we hadn't met like this, all of us in one room, since the Great Fiasco of 2006. I shudder just thinking about it. It must of crossed their minds too because if they weren't playing eye magnets with me, they were giving each other the wide-eyed look.
"Well, as you can see," I started, "There is great room for improvement. We all know our ultimate goal is to be like Jesus, sharing His love and truth with those He has placed in our path, right? Jesus has laid out a great plan for us soooo, I'd like to direct your attention to page 3 in your packet."
"With this in mind, we will be following God's instructions this year, starting with some immediate changes and announcements.
1) It's my pleasure to announce the immediate transfer of the twins Pride and Entitlement (Reference pages 5-6) You are to be replaced with Service and Family. Actually, you don't have to stay for the rest of the meeting. HR (Heaven's Resources) has already taken care of the paperwork and has your belongings at the front door.2) Worship and Love while I simply adore you and appreciate how you would take over a bad situation and turn it around, I'd like for you to participate in more collaborative work with Time, Family, Service, and Obedience.
3) Obedience, take a look at page 19. I need you to have daily Think, Pair, Share sessions with the triplets Faith, Hope and Trust. You won't be so easily swayed by the influences of Feelings, Sight and Hearing. Oh, and Worship and Love will be mentoring you on how to be a leader. We want you to rise to what you were ordained for.
4) Well, this brings me to my next announcement. We are also permanently welcoming another member to our team; Discernment. Discernment works directly with the Holy Spirit and has visited us occasionally before. However, in light of our assessment results, we permanently placed Discernment's name on the roster and have scheduled daily one on one sessions with Worship, Mouth, Sight and Hearing. The order doesn't matter. Just as long as Worship is first. You four will take what you learn and teach the others. Teamwork makes the dream work!
I glanced upwards and gave a whoosh of air through pursed lips.
6) Health, I saved you for last because I wanted to commend you for your committed desire for change. Prayerfully, as Sight and Feelings improve, they won't be a hindrance to you as much. I know it may seem like a lot, but we need you to collaborate with everyone as much as possible. As we looked over the data from 2014 until now, research proves that if you're not on your A-game we all suffer. Therefore we are assigning you directly to the one of the top level gurus - The Blood of Jesus and his partner Communion. Study them closely and trust that they know what they're talking about.
7) Lastly, as we bring this meeting to a close...for now... just know that I will be in direct contact with Jesus concerning all of you and will be meeting with you from time to time (no pun intended Time) so that this goes down as our best year in the history of me. I have been informed, as you can see from page 33 that we will continue to grow our membership and outreach programs this year as well as carry out some further inspections to make sure we do not have any unauthorized out of district members in our group.
Our meeting is hereby adjourned.
May the Lord bless us and protect us. May the Lord make His face shine on us and be gracious to us. May the Lord look with favor on us and give us peace.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Please take any extra muffins home with you... umm,...not you Health...sorry."
In the spirit of having a good mid-week laugh, I posted this left field " I wonder what it would be like if..." train of thought I was having. Seriously though, the process of progression must start at the realization that there is always a greater way and greater level in God. He is determined to take us from glory to glory as we believe, follow and serve Him wholeheartedly. New Year's resolutions are well and good, but we need to make New Life resolutions. It will take staying in constant communication with God and asking Him to walk you through the earthly manifestations of the spiritual transformation that was given to you when you first received Him. Jesus loves you and wants the best for you, not just as an educator, but as His son or daughter. Prove to the world that He exists and is REAL. Be ye transformed...
The Lord is with you and you are loved,
Toni
